Airstrikes reported in Sudanese capital; paramilitary group claims to seize palace

[Zorro]

Source: Washington Post

Airstrikes slammed into neighborhoods in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum and three planes were set aflame in the main airport as the military and a heavily armed paramilitary force battled in the streets on Saturday, pushing the troubled Horn of Africa nation to the cusp of a civil war.

The outbreak of violence follows years of ratcheting tensions between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a major paramilitary group led by Vice President Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo — universally referred to as Hemedti — and the military, headed by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the nation’s president.

Shooting broke out around 9 a.m., residents said, and fighting quickly escalated as artillery, armored vehicles and then fighter jets were deployed. Bridges were blocked and three planes at the international airport were hit, witnesses said.

The RSF claimed it had taken control of sites including the presidential palace, Khartoum International Airport, and the airport in Merowe, north of the capital. The Sudanese Armed Forces dismissed RSF statements as “lies.” Both sides blamed the other for attacking first.

Read more: https://wapo.st/43Dorbu

[Tetrachloride]

1. currently the first hour or 2 after sunset in Sudan

[hedda_foil]

2. I wonder who's funding the paramilitary?

It sounds like they're much better equipped than is possible without a great deal of outside funding. Their leader is "Vice President Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo." Where is the money coming from? Does he have important "friends"? Who benefits outside Sudan? China? US? Russia?

On edit: What important resources does Sudan have that other nations/corporations want?

[ancianita]

5. Per your edit:

Really, nothing.
Famine has become the permanent condition, because internally, if oil based nitrogen fertilizers aren't there to produce base vegetable crops, animals become a fallback for herding tribes; there can be crops, though, because unlike Egypt, sub-Saharan lands get rain. Doesn't mean the rest of the world is uncaring or doesn't go for trade; it could mean the constant destabilizing of trade and supply chains can lead to de-globalizing mindset.

As climate intensifies seasons, many locations on Earth are being left to their own devices in supplying themselves with power and food, as other nations build resiliency and stockpile said basics, along with manufacturing materials, done more and more through their regional economic cooperation agreements (like the ones the US, Canada and Mexico have).

[Warpy]

3. TV news was pretty chilling

Newscaster staying perfectly calm while gunfire was heard first outside, then inside, then the screen went blank. Looks like the playbook hasn't changed, "first grab the media."

I hope the newscaster had the sense to be fanatically pro whoever was pointing a gun at his head.

I have never seen anyone remain that calm in a life threatening crisis.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Video of that:

It starts getting bad about 1 minute in.

[roamer65]

4. Sounds like a civil war.

[Marcuse]

7. President vs. Vice President